Murray to resist a victory parade

Updated: 19:05 EST, 1 July 2009

The lack of sporting success since those open-top bus parades to Trafalgar Square to celebrate England’s Rugby World Cup triumph in 2003 and Ashes victory two years later has been noted by Andy Murray’s advisers, who will not be going down that route if the Scot wins Wimbledon.

The acclaim for the first Wimbledon men’s singles champion since Fred Perry would surpass the triumphs that resulted in London processions.

But the Murray camp would want to view a Grand Slam success as the first of many, not give the impression of it being a career-defining win.

No repeat: Murray will not follow these exuberant scenes in Trafalgar Square, should the Scot emerge victorious at SW19

The ultra-focused Murray would also prefer to take a holiday and then prepare for the American hardcourt season and his tilt at the US Open than get sucked into a big celebration schedule.

A Scottish homecoming to Dunblane with the trophy is more likely than a London bus ride.

This contrasts with the LTA’s grandiose plans for a helicopter ride around the country as well as a Trafalgar Square procession that were being mooted while Tim Henman was looking like a potential winner in 2001, although the understated Henman would have hated the excess.

An LTA spokesperson said: ‘It’s up to Andy and his 19 management to decide how they want to celebrate if that was to happen.’

The LTA’s claims about caring for the grassroots of the game have been dismissed as ‘total nonsense’ by independent tennis traders at the Eastbourne tournament, who allege they are being hounded out of business.

The complaints centre on the way the LTA, since taking over the running of the pre-Wimbledon event, have hiked up the exhibition price from £350 to £950.

Only the intervention of the Tennis Industry Association stopped the LTA doubllng last year’s rental cost of £750 to £1,500.

One exhibitor said: ‘The way we have been treated by the LTA is a total disgrace. They are trying to get every penny they can out of tennis people working in the best interests of the game. It’s scandalous.’

An LTA spokesperson said: ‘We had more trade stands than any other year and the price increases are in line with the enhancement of the event.’

BBC Sport had more on their minds than Wimbledon tennis rights yesterday following the deadline for another tranche of staff to decide whether to join the ill-fated, botched exodus to Salford in 2011.

Two of the lucky few are sports editor Mihir Bose (right) and Wimbledon tennis production chief Paul Davies.

Both are continuing in their jobs while staying in the south — even though Bose’s post included being based in Manchester in the original job description.

Snack food Pringles pulled off a huge marketing coup outside the All England Club yesterday by giving away thousands of crisps in tubes that resembled a sleeve of tennis balls.

Wimbledon regulations state such branded foodstuffs should be confiscated.

But the G4S security firm hired by the club were waving through fans with their rogue crisps.

At least 50 fans have been caught up in rogue site onlinewimbledontickets.com who have sold a variety of seats — including 13,000euros worth to a Romanian for four semi-final tickets — that do not exist.

The Met Police have been called in by the All England Club and are closing in abroad on the black market ringmaster behind the online fraud which sees different Wimbledon pirate sites open and close every year.

Robinsons, the soft drinks firm synonymous with Wimbledon, have started planning for next year’s 75th anniversary of their sponsorship, which began with the launch of Robinsons Barley Water in 1935 and features their branding on the umpire’s chair, although players have long since stopped drinking Robinsons in large quantities because of the varied choices in sports drinks.

Wimbledon advisers IMG found a way to disguise how much Robinsons was being drunk by putting out half-full bottles on court.